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THE COSMIC EGG TIMER by Joyce Hopewell & Richard Llewellyn
"This fascinating
book brilliantly offers...a real insight into the Huber Method.
Read it and you will be able to put theory into practice - the results
will be so impressive you will want to know more" "...the
first clear and informative summary of the Hubers' astrological
psychology...a direct adaptation into astrology of the spiritual
teachings of Alice A. Bailey. It rests on the assumption that each
of us has a soul purpose that can be realised through the horoscope" "This
impressive book explains the Huber Method clearly in a logical and
progressive manner. It enabled me to examine my own chart, and those
of family and friends. I came away with a deeper awareness of myself,
and a greater understanding of astrology. It has left me wanting
to know more!" This
book is an introduction to the Huber Method of psychological astrology.
This method was developed after years of research in collaboration
with Roberto Assagioli, founder of growth psychology, also known
as psychosynthesis. The Hubers chose what they considered the best
of the traditional approach to astrology as well as incorporating
radical new approaches: colour and intuitive images, the psychological
meaning of aspects, recognition of cycles of energy in the astrological
house, family and childhood influence, and the "Life Clock",
which highlights key moments in a person's life. Joyce Hopewell and Richard Llewellyn have written a highly informative guide to the Huber Method, developed by Bruno and Louise Huber. The Huber's combined astrology and psychology to create an astrology of the soul, which can help reveal the path and inner purpose of an individual. Written with clarity and real insight, it gives the background to the development of the Huber Method as well as an in-depth understanding of what it entails. It is suitable for the beginner who would like to learn how to read a birth chart and begin the process of interpretation. It is also an excellent summary for those well versed in astrology who may not have read much about this particular perspective and wish to know more. Chapters on chart shape, aspects, houses, signs and the unique concept of the life clock all provide fresh knowledge and radical new ways to read and work with chart data. In the final chapter the authors bring it all together and show how effective a reading using this information can be. The book is delightfully offset by the drawings of artist and astrologer Annabel Burton, adding character and humour to the text. Highly
recommended for anyone wishing to grasp the essence of astrological
psychology, and the Huber Method in particular. Although Huber astrology, as taught by the API, has been established now for over 40 years, this is the first book in any language to provide an introduction and overview of Astrological Psychology or the "Huber method". This great little book, (187 pages) is written jointly by Richard Llewellyn and Joyce Hopewell, who I am trusting need no introduction to readers of Conjunction. Edited by Barry Hopewell who has also contributed some photographs, the book is a paperback, published by HopeWell, ISBN 0-9547680-0-0, at the price of £11.99 inc p&p. The book is clear, concise, attractively presented and never boring, with a lightness of touch, which is ably supported by Annabel Burton's lovely illustrations. One of the book's great strengths is that the authors show a genuinely caring attitude - the emphasis throughout is warm, positive and enlightening. Perhaps the key strength of Astrological Psychology is that it has been developed with personal development or enlightenment in mind. It is, as many of you already know, far from being "cook book" astrology. No gloomy portents or dire predictions are to be found within the covers - although there are plenty of guidelines to help us use astrology for self-development, growth and understanding or, for those training as astrological counsellors with the API, to help us to work with clients. I would definitely have liked this book at my side during my recent Foundation studies - it has answered a lot of questions that those studies raised. In content it is more wide-ranging than 'The Astrological Houses', although necessarily not as specialized or detailed. It is certainly more approachable for beginners. Additionally, it is not a translation from German, but written by English authors. I say this because I have felt that the books by Bruno and Louise Huber, although excellent and to be highly recommended, feel as if they suffer a little in translation. What is really interesting is not so much the simplicity and clarity of the explanations and examples, but the fact that the authors manage to cover so much ground. The Introduction and second chapter provide an overview of Astrological Psychology and place it in historical, psychological and spiritual contexts. Chapter Three introduces us to the birth chart and its reflection of five fundamental levels of existence: the Core, the Aspects, the Planets, the Signs and the Houses. Chapter Four looks at the chart as a whole and the beginnings of interpretation. Chapters Five to Eight give us, in turn, both comprehensive and stimulating detail on the aspects, the planets, the Signs and the Houses. These first chapters provide a good grounding for anyone beginning their studies. More advanced material is covered in Chapters Nine to Eleven. In Chapter Nine there is a discussion of the Family Model within a chart and the "nature versus nurture" issue. The Life Clock is clearly explained in Chapter Ten. Chapter Eleven has a lively discussion of issues relating to Psychological and Spiritual growth - because, as the authors state: "The whole of this book is about using astrology to facilitate the psychological and spiritual growth of the human being, within the context of the spiritual evolution of humanity" (p.141). I loved Chapter Five - the Aspect Patterns - because here I felt I was really moving on from the Foundation level. However my favourite chapter has to be Chapter Twelve where we are given two examples of the Method being used in a practical sense. We are introduced to astrological interpretation and two sample charts are interpreted in considerable detail so that we see the blend of both intuitive and technical aspects of the Huber method. Each chapter is followed by a summary which provides an overview of the main points, perfect for revision or ideal for those who know a little of the subject - they can use the summary as a checklist to assess whether they need to read the detail of that chapter. Additionally the book has a very good index, something I have often found to be lacking in texts of an esoteric or 'alternative' nature. This book doesn't show you how to construct a chart - for that you will need to enrol on the appropriate API course. It does, however, describe in full the components of a Huber chart, so that you can see the way in which a chart is constructed, and the elements that are important for interpretation within astrological psychology. If you have some familiarity already with chart drawing you would be able to adapt to the Huber method by working with this book and a sample colour chart or two. The authors recommend that you read this book with your own chart to hand, and I certainly did this. I think you should also have coloured pens and paper to hand as well. Should you want charts and do not have access to a computer, you are provided with contact details for the API Chart Data Service (email r.llewellyn@btinternet.com). Contacts for further training are also detailed at the back of the book, and there is also a comprehensive booklist. You could also go to www.astro.com where you can get Huber style charts for free, although they are not anywhere near the high standard of presentation you would get from the Chart Data Service or your own software. Companion software, Regulus Light, is being sold for use with this book. I have not seen this but you may contact Reynold Swallow on reynold.swallow@btinternet.com for further information. The book's one weakness is the lack of colour, although I fully appreciate, as the authors point out, that colour would have made the cost of the book far higher. However, not everyone will have access to a computer or be able to afford to buy several charts from the API data service - you really do need access to colour charts if you want to make the most of this book. Nonetheless, for readers who have little or no familiarity with the Huber method I am sure it will whet the appetite enough for this relatively minor detail to be overcome. And you can, as I would recommend, use coloured pens if that is all you have the budget for - either marking-in the colour on the black and white charts in the book or sketching colour copies if you would prefer the book to remain unmarked. The real strength of this book is that it fulfills its aim of introducing a complex subject to those with little or no previous knowledge, yet it is still a suitable source of reference for those that have started their studies with the API. The book would also be helpful to the more casual reader and for anyone who consults a Huber astrologer and then finds they would like to learn more about the way Huber astrology works. Those who have completed the Diploma course will surely buy it also because it provides, for the first time, a really comprehensive and well-explained overview of the key elements of Astrological Psychology. Those familiar with other astrological methods will find it an excellent introduction to the Huber method. An added bonus is that the book is just small enough to fit in a handbag or large pocket and light enough to carry anywhere. This is said by someone who never goes anywhere without a book about my person; some of you may not be subject to this strange disorder! What
more can I say, but 'Thank You' to Joyce, Richard, Annabel and Barry
for providing us with a much needed and excellently produced book. The leading lights of the API UK (formerly the English Huber School) have got together to produce the definitive guide to the Huber's astrological psychology method of chart interpretation. Although Bruno and Louise Huber have produced several books themselves, this new book has insights gained from Joyce and Barry Hopewell, and Richard Llewellyn, drawing on their vast experience of running the English Huber School and facilitating workshops around the world over many years. For me, the joy of the Huber approach is in the concentration on a person's own experience, validating this with the correlation of the differing planetary energies. This in itself brings the study of astrology into the realms of one's own truth, rather than the clumsy attempt to fit this with the accepted pigeon holes found in so-called cook books. It's risky but it works. The book follows a logical and cohesive pattern beginning with the Five Levels of Human Existence to include the centre of the chart, the planets, signs, aspects and houses into a coherent whole. There is a chapter on psychological and spiritual growth which is the essence of this unique approach. In the Introduction, a quote from the API Code of Ethics, as set out by Bruno and Louise Huber states :"The basic concept of astrological psychology is based on the understanding of man as a whole; he has a psyche which is linked with the environment, but he is also a spiritual entity who can be responsible for itself. " There are also clear descriptions of Huber techniques, such as the Age Progression and the chart as a Life Clock, and a final chapter with real life examples of astrological psychology in action. The addition of my own little drawings takes this a long way from a stuffy text book and adds, I hope, to the words, and helps to make this book accessible and readable. The writing evokes strong visual images, aiding the assimilation of knowledge e.g. In a description of the Moon as inner child - "think of a middle-aged woman losing her temper, stamping her foot and slamming doors because she feels misunderstood, or a mature man sulking moodily and refusing to speak to his wife because her parents are visiting and he's had to miss the football match on TV!" and then in a later chapter we learn about the signs of the zodiac symbolising the 'soul's journey of incarnation and development'. From the ridiculous to the sublime! For
anyone who is curious about Huber astrology, or indeed who is already
knowledgeable about astrology, and would like to further their understanding,
this book is a must. Review below taken from the Mountain Astrologer
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"Cosmic
Egg Timer" acclaimed by Louise Huber
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